Prius: 1M and Counting

Toyota and Honda square off with dueling technologies, too

(NEWSER) - Toyota and Honda have begun waging battle in the hybrid market, and a price war is bound to speed conversion by consumers—the Prius is expected to dip below $21,000 in order to compete with the $19,000 Insight in Japan. But the two aren't just versions of the same new option, writes Salon. Different technology makes Toyota's offering both more expensive and more efficient for in-town driving, while Honda's is more efficient for highway driving. More»

Larger, smaller versions of popular hybrid would fill out lineup, exec says

(NEWSER) - Toyota may create a separate brand for the Prius, filling it out with new larger and smaller versions of the popular hybrid, the New York Times reports. Advocating for the creation of the brand is James Lentz, president of Toyota’s US sales, who argues that Prius is already a brand in the minds of consumers. The car dominates the hybrid market, accounting for 75% of US sales. More»

Consumers viewing fuel efficiency as 'one factor' again

(NEWSER) - Oil prices have been falling since mid-June, and though it’s debatable whether speculators or market fundamentals drove the boom (and now possible bust), it is clear that $4 a gallon gas crimped demand. But for how long? With prices now again below that psychological threshold but still $1.19 more than a year ago, auto industry data suggest that even mild relief could reverse the trend toward fuel efficiency, the LA Times reports. More»

11.5% June drop in US sales blamed on low inventory of popular small models

(NEWSER) - Popularity is proving quite the pickle for Toyota: Dwindling supplies of hot sellers like its hybrid Prius fueled the 11.5% drop in US sales last month, Reuters reports. With a waiting list 6 months long, Prius sales fell 26%—even as rival Honda bumped its sales 13.8% thanks to record demand for its fuel-efficient Fit and Civic vehicles. More»

Sales of hybrids up 38% last year, with the Prius leading the way

(NEWSER) - Sales of hybrid cars rose 38% in the US last year, with Toyota's Prius grabbing more than half the market. As fuel prices climb, hybrid sales are expected to continue to rise this year. Five states lead the rest in buying hybrids, calculated by percentage of sales:

1. California (26.1%)
2. Florida (5.5%)
3. New York (5.0%)
4. Texas (4.9%)
5. Washington (3.7%)